Spring Learning Communities

Spring learning communities are linked thematically. What follows below is a section-ordered listing of the learning communities, which includes the topic, along with a brief description as to how the topic will be addressed in the context of the learning communities' courses. Also provided is specific scheduling information. Should any of the scheduling information change, this page will be continuously updated so that the latest information is always available.

SECTION LC1 TOPIC: The Business of Sport

This learning community explores the business of professional and amateur sport by studying the roles of franchise owners and administrators, college athletic directors, Olympic sport personnel, recreation managers and the athletes themselves.

This learning community will examine several of the social problems that are at issue in our contemporary world (as examples: drug use and abuse, genetic engineering, cloning, etc). One course will focus on the ethical aspects while the other will help students better understand the scientific aspects.

BIO-200-LC2

Sci & Con Social Iss

DS DS318

MWF

09:05AM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. Matthew Ward

LEC

10:00AM

5/02/2014

REL-213-LC2

Contemp Moral Issues

DS DS318

MWF

08:00AM

1/22/2014

3

Dr .Charles Sabatino

LEC

08:55AM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC3 TOPIC: Mask Production and Performance

This combination of visual and performing arts creates a unique and potentially powerful artistic exploration for students. Students will enter an inclusive context, that of the ensemble, in which every member contributes something different to serve the manifestation of the whole project. Actors must consider the visual needs of the production, while visual artists must consider the needs of the actors who inhabit the masks and characters envisioned. The practical reality of the mask production puts skills into a very specific framework, allowing many different types of learners to succeed. Issues in ensemble work will be explored including: How do we include other points of view without compromising our own? How do we make decisions as a group? How do we transform the selfish artist into the selfless, group-focused artist?

ART-101-LC3

Intro to Visual Arts

VPAC V112

W

07:00PM

1/22/2014

3

Prof Mark B. Griffis

LEC

09:45PM

5/02/2014

THA-108-LC3

Masked Performance

VPAC V10

MWF

12:20PM

1/22/2014

3

Prof. Christian Brandjes

LEC

01:15PM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC4 TOPIC: The Body in Motion

This learning community is a mixture of theory and practice. Students will learn the basic practices of yoga and tai chi and the basic principles of the anatomy of the moving body. Students will use these foundations to understand the role of muscles, tendons and joints during movement.

BIO-118-LC4

Anatomy of Movement

DS DS227

MW

07:50AM

1/22/2014

3

Prof Cynthia Russell

LEC

09:10AM

5/02/2014

CAT-213-LC4

Foundations of Yoga

WICK W113

MW

09:20AM

3/17/2014

2

Tracy Draksic

LEC

11:20AM

4/30/2014

CAT-224-LC4

Qi Gong Healing Meth

WICK W113

W

09:30AM

1/22/2014

1

Mr. Kehua Zhou

LEC

11:20AM

3/05/2014

SECTION LC5 TOPIC: The Rich and the Poor

This learning community explores the difference in income levels throughout the world. It provides the theories and measurement instruments to explain inequality and studies how globalization has contributed in inequality.

ECO-213-LC5

Econom of Inequality

B B102

MWF

01:25PM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. William DiPietro

LEC

02:20PM

5/02/2014

PSC-210-LC5

Politics Globalization

DS DS256

M

04:00PM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. Joseph Sankoh

LEC

07:10PM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC6 TOPIC: SECTION CANCELLED

SECTION LC7 TOPIC: Literature & Law: The Real and Surreal

This learning community examines works of literature and media representations often present complex depictions of power, the law, and legal issues. While the accuracy of these depictions can be questionable, some aspects of the law are as surreal as anything found in fiction. Therefore "surreal" moments in fiction can help us uncover deeper truths about power, law, and the legal system. Through the use of texts, articles, and video (including episodes of Breaking Bad) this learning community will link legal history, case studies, literary analysis, and critical thinking to evaluate legal issues and the legal system. LIT 112 introduces students to the conventions of analysis in the discipline of English, with an emphasis on the principles of effective literary argumentation. The course focuses on the development of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills and will prepare students to understand the controversies that undergird the criticism of different texts in the Humanities. PSC 230 examines the basic elements of the United States judicial system, including the functions of the courts, different roles of different state and federal courts, roles of attorneys and judges within the system, distinctions between different areas of the law (criminal, civil, etc), the trial and appellate processes, and judicial policymaking.

LIT-112-LC7

Approaches to Literature

DS DS244

MWF

10:10AM

1/22/2014

3

Charles Wesley

LEC

11:05AM

5/02/2014

PSC-230-LC7

US Judicial Process

DS DS214

MWF

09:05AM

1/22/2014

3

Prof. Laurie Walsh

LEC

10:00AM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC8 TOPIC: Themes in Art and Philosophy

Plato argued that art is twice removed from reality; Aristotle, however, affirmed that art grasps the real. This learning community will explore such debates, along with a number of important themes found both in works of art and philosophy.

ART-107-LC8

Visual Experience

VPAC V117

MWF

09:05AM

1/22/2014

3

Prof Brian W. Hammer

LEC

10:00AM

5/02/2014

PHI-110-LC8

Philosophical Thinking

DS DS248

MWF

11:15AM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. James A. Moran

LEC

12:10PM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC9 TOPIC: Themes in Art and Philosophy

Plato argued that art is twice removed from reality; Aristotle, however, affirmed that art grasps the real. This learning community will explore such debates, along with a number of important themes found both in works of art and philosophy.

ART-107-LC9

Visual Experience

DS DS11

MWF

11:15AM

1/22/2014

3

Prof Jennifer Griffith

LEC

12:10PM

5/02/2014

PHI-110-LC9

Philosophical Thinking

DS DS248

MWF

10:10AM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. James A. Moran

LEC

11:05AM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC10 TOPIC: Making Sense of Society

This learning community focuses on the systematic study of social behavior and human groups as well as the processes of social change through quantitative data and measurements. Without the mathematical basis provided by statistics, data and measurements in the field of sociology would be rendered meaningless or, even worse, capable of distorted and misleading interpretation. Students will explore the foundations or sociology as a social science while concurrently exploring the mathematical science of statistics in a more applied manner than the usual theory focused course.

MTH-104-LC10

Survey of Statistics

DS DS218

TR

10:00AM

1/22/2014

3

Prof Jeremy Hall

LEC

11:20AM

5/02/2014

SOC-201-LC10

Intro Sociology

B B204

TR

01:00PM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. George Siefert

LEC

02:20PM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC11 TOPIC: SECTION CANCELLED

SECTION LC12 TOPIC: Culture and Crisis

This learning community explores the relationship between society, theater and film. "Culture and Crisis" will look at some of the fundamental categories that structure ancient and modern society (i.e. purity, honor, gender, morality). It will look at the way these values are reflected in sections of the Bible as well as select novels and films. "Theatre, Madness and Power" explores the ways in which such categories determine who we are and provide us with boundaries we overstep at our peril. The course explores, in particular, the ways in which theatre and film have played alternately sacred, populist, controversial, and conservative roles in examining, challenging or determining our ideas of sanity, purity, sexuality and morality. The course will complement "Culture and Crisis" by exploring plays, films, and readings that reflect recurring crises in ancient and modern society.

This learning community introduces students to a variety of literatures (scientific and popular, persuasive and literary) that help illuminate the intricacies and differences in human behavior. The link places particular emphasis on information literacy and its applications in interpreting Psychology as a scientific discipline. PSY 103 will outline the research which grounds our understanding of the biological, cognitive, social and cultural influences on human behavior. CMP 101 will focus on building students' skills as readers of psychological literature and as writers capable of utilizing and communicating research on human behavior for a range of purposes: to discuss how psychological principles can inform readings of a variety of texts (literary, digital, persuasive, etc.); to distinguish between scientific psychological research and "pop psychology"; and to gather, analyze, and communicate evidence required to interpret psychological phenomena accurately and responsibility.

CMP-101-LC13

Composition

DS DS240

MWF

10:10AM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. Erica Frisicaro

LEC

11:05AM

5/02/2014

PSY-103-LC13

Intro to Psychology

DS DS240

MWF

09:05AM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. Colleen Specht Kashino

LEC

10:00AM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC14 TOPIC: Contemporary Native America

This learning community introduces students to the current American Indians/First Nations. A foundation will be laid in ethnography, which will cover the anthropological culture area concept and culture areas as environmental context. Following this will be an examination of important legal and social contexts. The post-World War II environment will introduce a discussion of sustainability and change of traditional cultures and the challenges they face. The CMP101 class will complement the ANT210 half of the learning community. The primary emphasis will be on developing students’ rhetorical awareness through a thorough understanding of the contexts, purposes, and expectations of college-level writing. Written assignments will be linked to topics presented in the Anthropology course so as to allow students to perfect their writing skills while exploring these topics more fully. CMP101 will combine classroom instruction and individual tutorials.

ANT-210-LC14

Cont Native America

DS DS252

TR

02:30PM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. Blake Thurman

LEC

03:50PM

5/02/2014

CMP-101-LC14

Composition

DS DS252

TR

12:30PM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. Robert Morace

LEC

02:20PM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC15 TOPIC: Making Art and Community Happen

In this learning community students will gain basic skills in analyzing and creating works of art. They will explore ways artists and communities use these skills to address and respond to local concerns. Students will take the knowledge and skills they learn in the studio and the classroom and apply them at a local arts organization in order to experience the connections between art and community first hand.

ART-101-LC15

Intro to Visual Arts

VPAC V18

MWF

09:05AM

1/22/2014

3

Prof Dana Hatchett

LEC

10:00AM

5/02/2014

IND-147-LC15

ST:Art and Community

VPAC V18

MWF

10:10AM

1/22/2014

3

Dr. Mary Wolf

LEC

11:05AM

5/02/2014

SECTION LC16 TOPIC:World Conflict in the 20th Century

This learning community will examine a broad range of Classic and Contemporary Films from the 1930's to the end of the 20th Century in terms of text and technique. It will also examine both film and the film industry as an institution of cultural validation within, and a challenge to modern society. It will also highlight how various films and their creators (Studios, directors, screenwriters, etc.) either support or confront society's dominant political and social ideologies, in terms of genre, genre criticism and auteur theory. The Learning Community also deals with the story of Europe and its place in the world during the tumultuous 20th century. At the height of its political and economic power at the beginning of the century, Europe would be devastated by a century of warfare and torn apart by ideological conflicts. While we will focus much of our attention on political, economic and diplomatic developments, considerable time will be devoted to social and cultural phenomena as well. Major topics covered include: the two world wars and their impact on European societies; the economic, intellectual and cultural turmoil of the interwar period; the Bolshevik Revolution and creation of the Soviet Union; Stalin's "revolution" and the transformation of Soviet society; the rise of fascism in Italy and Germany; the Holocaust and its aftermath; and the origins of the Cold War after World War II.

This learning community explores the history, politics, and culture of the United States through history and film. HST 125 focuses upon major themes in American history from the 1960s through the present, with particular emphasis on how the multiple meanings of the 1960s have been understood in subsequent years. IND 269 explores these themes in parallel, considering the ways that divisive social issues of the recent past have been represented in film. Major themes explored in this learning community include the Cold War; the rise of identity-based social movements (primarily Civil Rights Movement, feminism, ethnic identity movements, and gay liberation); the Vietnam War and its critics; liberal and conservative political and social movements; and the culture wars.

Student Profiles

Feifei - Global Business

In Daemen, I took ESL classes to improve my English. I worked at Canavan Desk and made a lot of friends over there. I participated in a Business dinner with my professors. I was invited to join a family party by my professors. During the weekends, I often take the school shuttle to the shopping mall. These experiences helped me to ease into the American-style of study, life, and business.